A/N: Aww man, I'm behind schedule. I lost track of time yesterday while I was watching Lion King, which by the way I did not get past two minutes until I started to bawl while they sung "Circle of Life", and the next thing I knew I was passed out on the couch with my dog. Smh. The show must go on and I apologize for the wait.

Oh, also, we will be leaving behind the silliness in this chapter. It will get a little serious and it'll keep getting more serious.

Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine, not mine, not mine

oooooooooooooooooooo

Naruto was at work, doing the evening shift with Sai and the store was completely empty at the moment. He sighed, there was absolutely nothing to do. He had already organized the shelves and organized the backroom. And he had this insane feeling of busying himself. It would help him not think about Sasuke's behavior as of late. It was starting to confuse him and no matter how many times he had asked Sasuke to clarify Sasuke would refuse. Did the bastard mean that he couldn't stand to see Naruto because he thought he was ugly? Maybe it was Naruto's personality?

It really couldn't be any of those. Naruto thought he had an amazing personality and the looks of an angel.

So if it wasn't any of those, then what could it be?

He leaned his head onto the hand that was on the counter and sighed again.

Damn that bastard. Damn him to deepest parts of hell.

Naruto gave a sideways glance to Sai, who was counting the money in the cash register. Sai, feeling Naruto's stare, looked at him and raised a black eyebrow.

Maybe he should get a second opinion.

"Hey...Sai..." Naruto began ," do you think I'm...ugly?" Naruto really didn't think he was but Sasuke bastard was weird and he might be confusing beautiful with ugly.

Sai raised his other eyebrow and gave him his signature creepy smile that never failed to give Naruto the shivers.

"Who said that?"

"Umm, Sasuke-teme...he kind of implied that I was...maybe?" Naruto took a deep breath and continued "I don't understand what that bastard's problem is! I'm an amazing guy. I cook, I clean, I take care of him. AND on top of that I'm beautiful! Doesn't my beauty amaze you?"

Sai opened his mouth to speak but was quickly interrupted by Naruto who continued his tirade.

"Everytime he opens his mouth he insults me!"

"Hm. But you and Uchiha seem close." Sai raised his index finger to his lips in a thoughtful manner.

Naruto pondered that thought. They did live together...and Sasuke hadn't kicked him out yet.

"Maybe you should ask him. Isn't that what close friends are for?"

Close...friends? Naruto's face lighted up with a smile. His blue eyes softened as he gazed into the distance.

"Yeah...you're right. He can't live without me." Naruto grinned.

"Yes yes...you're charming as well so I'm sure you'll make up with him rather soon." Sai then went back to counting the money and Naruto continued staring into space.

He heard the sharp 'ding' of the door and looked up to see a handsome silver haired man enter. There was something oddly familiar about the man. Before he could follow that train of thought the man walked up to the register with his items. Naruto walked over to the cash register with Sai and prepared to bag up the man's purchased items. He saw that the man was buying cigarettes and snorted in disgust. He hated cigarettes. He filled up the bag and handed it to the man and realized that he was staring intently into Naruto's face with a smirk.

Now, Naruto knew he was sexy but the man was really not his type.

"Naruto...so here you are." The man's smirk turned into a mocking grin.

Naruto looked at the man, surprised. He was pretty sure that he had never met this man.

"Uh. Who are you?" Naruto was starting to get nervous. It wasn't everyday that a stranger walked up to you and called you by your name. Well, the whole 'stranger walking up to him' did actually happen everyday but they usually didn't know his name.

The pains of being beautiful, hmph.

"Why...you don't recognize me? How about if you imagine a black mask covering half of my face?"

Naruto scrunched up his nose and narrowed his eyes. His eyebrow rose and the other one followed it as soon as he realized who he was talking to.

Kakashi Hatake. The man he owed a huge amount of money too. Now that he looked really carefully, he did look like him. Well, the part that was usually uncovered.

Naruto gulped and laughed nervously. Really, how he got himself into such situations, he had no idea. He looked sideways at Sai, who was observing him and Kakashi. He couldn't let Sai find out his woes so Naruto, without thinking, jumped over the counter and grabbed Kakashi's arm and dragged him outside. He then let go and led Kakashi to a back alley, where they could have some privacy to talk. He was pretty tired of running and no matter where he went, he was pretty sure that his past would catch up with him.

Naruto sighed and leaned against a brick wall and lifted a hand up to ruffle his hair. He looked up expectantly at Kakashi and waited. He had saved up some money but not enough to pay him back. He wanted to ask a lot of questions but it was better if Kakashi spoke first.

"It seems that...Gaara is finally out."

Naruto's mind went blank. He was absolutely not expecting that. Gaara...was...but he...

He had tried so hard not to think of Gaara, for fear of the guilt and sadness creeping up. But now, if what Kakashi had said was true...

"And it would also seem that Gaara has paid off your debts." Kakashi snickered gleefully.

Naruto winced and his cheeks flushed. He had not wanted for Gaara to find out about his money problems. If there was one thing Naruto hated, it was charity. But at least his debts were paid, so there was one less thing to worry about.

"...So what now?" Naruto didn't really know where to go from here. On one hand, he wanted to know Gaara's whereabouts. But on the other hand, he wanted to avoid Gaara for shame was still very much embedded in him. And he didn't want to face Gaara...not the way he was now.

Kakashi rubbed his bottom lip with his thumb and observed Naruto, a sadistic glint in his eyes.

"Now...you meet with Gaara."

ooooooooooooooooooooo

Naruto sighed for the upteenth time as he walked back to the apartment. After his conversation with Kakashi, Naruto had gone back to work but was unable to focus on anything. He kept feeling Sai's questioning glances but he did his best at ignoring them. He was in no state to talk to anyone at the moment. He just wanted to be alone and think. Unfortunately, he knew Sasuke would probably be home by now and would start questioning him. He knew he had a vacant look on his face and he knew that he had to keep this from Sasuke at all costs. Naruto didn't want Sasuke to find out about Gaara or what had happened between them. The truth was, Naruto didn't want Sasuke to find out about his past at all. It would reopen cauterized wounds and Naruto didn't want to remember. He hoped that Kakashi kept his mouth shut about finding him. He couldn't handle seeing Gaara any time soon.

He stopped a few blocks away from the apartment and instead turned around to head into a nearby park. It was night and the stars were out, sparkling in the sky like diamonds. Naruto looked around the park and found it deserted. Good. He needed the quiet. He walked over to the swings and sat on one, his feet slightly pushing him to and fro. Naruto looked up at the sky and inhaled the fresh scent of grass and blooming flowers. His hands grasped the chains of the swing tightly and Naruto grit his teeth.

He felt the oncoming tears and blinked fast to stop them from falling. He didn't want to cry. He hadn't really cried in years. But finding out that Gaara was back was too overwhelming and images of another man that he kept trying to forget flooded his mind.

"Naruto..." the reminder of a soft caress on his cheek.

Fuckfuckfuckfuck.

Naruto thought that he could live a peaceful life with Sasuke for a while. He thought that Sasuke might've helped him forget painful memories. But Sasuke was no healer, Naruto realized. His wounds would have to heal on their own.

Naruto didn't know what to do about Gaara. Back then, Gaara was his everything. Gaara was the only one he could trust. Truth be told, Naruto had missed Gaara so so much during the time that he was away. But Naruto didn't want to show Gaara his shameful face. After taking care of him and looking out for him, he feared that Gaara would be disappointed in him. He wasn't ready to see any kind of disappointment in Gaara's eyes.

Naruto would talk to him. Just...not yet.

He wasn't ready yet.

Naruto put his head in his hands and breathed shakily. His hands grabbed onto the chains again and his feet tensed. He pushed himself up on the swing, as far as he could and let go, feeling the wind hitting his face.

For now, he will try to forget.

ooooooooooooooooooooo

Sasuke tapped his foot impatiently and looked at the clock on the side of the bed. It was midnight and Naruto still hadn't returned. His shift was supposed to have ended three hours ago and the walk back to apartment certainly didn't take that long. Irritated and just plain pissed off, Sasuke had called the store in a desperate attempt to find out if Naruto was still there. Sai had picked up and had informed him that Naruto had left right after his shift ended.

He had also mentioned that Naruto had a run in with an 'acquaitance' of his and had stepped out to talk to him. Moments later, Naruto had returned, solemn and quiet. Sasuke, although he would never openly admit it, was kind of worried.

Who was that acquaintance? Their discussion must've been serious if Naruto had returned without saying a word.

A quiet Naruto was never a good thing.

And to top it all off, Naruto wasn't even back yet. The blond was a master at running into precarious situations and often got himself into trouble anywhere he went. It was an annoying trait, one that Sasuke had insisted that he change lest he get himself into a mess he couldn't get out of.

So now, Sasuke was semi worried and kind of freaking out. He had called Naruto's cellphone fifteen times in the last two hours but the blond hadn't picked up. Not once.

What if he was beaten up and was now lying in a ditch?

What if someone had kidnapped him?

Sasuke did not have a good imagination, not one as good as Naruto's anyway, but that didn't stop his mind from coming up with different scenerios. Tired of sitting around and waiting for the blond, he grabbed a light jacket and stepped out to find him. He was heading to the stairs when he heard soft snores. Curious, he walked towards the noise and found the person he was looking for.

The blond had fallen asleep on the stairs.

His blond hair was in disarray and his clothes looked disheveled. The messanger bag that Naruto usually carried around was thrown on the ground, the contents spilling out.

Sasuke didn't know whether to be even more pissed off or relieved. Settling for pissed off he marched over to Naruto and cuffed him on the back of his head. Naruto yelled out and grabbed his head, opening his eyes to reveal dazed blue eyes.

Sasuke grabbed Naruto by his shirt and pulled him up roughly.

"What the fuck are you doing laying here?"

Naruto's eyes slitted and started to mumble sleepily "Whaa...Sas...uke? Whatareyoudoin'?"

"You fucking bastard! Why the fuck are you out here?"

"Nnmmm...shut...up. So sleepy." Naruto then closed his eyes and went back to sleep. Sasuke cursed "Fucking moron." Sasuke grabbed Naruto and dragged him off to bed, wrapping his arm around Naruto's waist. Sasuke pushed Naruto onto the bed and tried to wake him up.

"Wake the fuck up. You have to change your clothes or you'll end up feeling uncomfortable when you wake up."

Naruto mumbled and snuggled into Sasuke's pillow instead.

Sasuke sighed, irritated that he had to take care of such a child. He sat down on the bed and reached down to take Naruto's shoes off. Then he pulled off his pants and his shirt, leaving him in his tank top and boxers. Sasuke tried to do this as fast as he could, without getting distracted by the smooth tan skin that was revealed. He grabbed the covers and pulled them over Naruto, tucking him in.

Sasuke didn't know why he was taking care of the blond, seeing as he was pissed off. But his relief probably overrode his anger and so he conceded defeat. He was about to get off the bed to turn of the light when Naruto turned over to face Sasuke and grabbed his hand. Sasuke was surprised but permitted Naruto to grab it. Naruto interlaced their fingers, eyes closed and mumbled "Hold my hand...until I fall asleep..."

In Naruto's mind, a man with red hair and green eyes appeared.

Before, whenever...I was scared...he was always the one to hold my hand.

ooooooooooooooooooooo

Sasuke stayed, hand interlaced with Naruto's, until the blond fell asleep. He observed him, the blond hair and the long golden lashes. Naruto, if he was honest to himself, was stunning.

Not stunning like a movie star or a model.

But stunning, like a flower that had barely bloomed. Stunning, like the moon and the stars. He was stunning in a way that captivated people and attracted them to him.

Although the blond used coarse language and was a trouble maker, one could not deny that he radiated a sort of innocence. Innocence was no so easily found but Naruto was living proof that it existed.

And Sasuke was captivated. Oh, so captivated. He was captivated by the blue eyes that sparkled when he laughed or the full lips that formed a natural pout. Everything about Naruto, captivated Sasuke.

He didn't want to admit it, but it was the truth.

It was not love. Nor like. But a mere fascination.

So Sasuke leaned over and placed a soft kiss upon Naruto's lips.

ooooooooooooooooooooo

Naruto awoke to the rays of sunlight hitting his face. He groaned, not wanting to get up for he was comfortably warm. Unfortunately, he had to wake up because his bladder was about ready to burst. He sat up, rubbing his eyes and realized that he was on Sasuke's bed. Confused and still groggy Naruto walked to the bathroom to relieve himself. Finishing that, he stumbled into the kitchen, smelling toast and eggs.

Seeing Sasuke, Naruto rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was dreaming. Sasuke never cooked. In the time that Naruto had moved in, Sasuke always pushed Naruto to cook.

The fucking bastard...

"Uh...sorry I slept in your bed." Naruto rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.

Sasuke turned around and raised an eyebrow "Sorry?"

Naruto yawned "Uh huh...I thought you didn't want me to sleep on your bed?"

"It's just a bed dobe." Sasuke turned back to the eggs frying on the stove, flipping them before they could burn.

"I know...it's just...nothing. I'm just trying hard not to overstep my boundaries." Naruto turned around and headed to the bathroom. He should probably wash up before eating because he smelt like sweat and cigarette smoke.

ooooooooooooooooooooo

The silverware clinked as they ate silently. Naruto knew that Sasuke wanted to ask some questions but he wasn't ready to talk yet. He ignored Sasuke's glances and looked at his plate as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. When he got up to take his plate over to the sink he was stopped by Sasuke's hand on his elbow.

"I come from a strict family. There's only my father, my older brother and I. My mother died when I was young but it wasn't a great loss because she never paid much attention to us anyway. My father is a strict man, always demanding the best from us. My older brother was always his favorite because he's perfect at everything. I grew tired of living a monotonous life and I grew tired of my father's expectations."

Naruto had sat back down and was giving Sasuke his undivided attention. He didn't know why Sasuke was willing to divulge about his life right now but Naruto wasn't going to complain. It gave him a better opportunity of understanding the raven.

"So I left." Sasuke stared at Naruto intently, his eyes drilling into Naruto's.

Naruto couldn't handle such intensity and his gaze dropped to the wooden table.

"You left? Wouldn't they be lonely?" Naruto had to ask.

Sasuke chuckled mockingly "Of course not. They have my sister-in-law after all."

"Why...are you telling me all this? Cooking me breakfast...and letting me sleep on your bed?"

Sasuke stayed silent for a while, still staring at Naruto.

"What happened last night? I called the store yesterday because you hadn't returned and Sai told me about a friend of yours. He also told me how weird you were behaving after talking to him."

Naruto should've known. He should've seen something like this coming. He had hoped that Sasuke wouldn't ask but hoping proved fruitless.

"Ah...that guy? He's just...a friend. I hadn't seen him in such a long time and I was excited to talk to him, y'know," Naruto got up and started walking back to the bedroom to get dressed "anyway, thanks for breakfast."

Naruto smiled but Sasuke quickly noticed that it was hollow and did not reach his eyes. As Naruto turned back around, Sasuke got up too and grabbed Naruto arm to pull him back.

"Why the fuck are you lying? Why can't you fucking tell me?"

Naruto flushed in anger, his eyes narrowed.

"Just because you spilled your life story out doesn't mean that I have to do it too! I have my own priacy dammit!"

Sasuke growled and grabbed Naruto and wrestled him to the floor.

"I think you should just stop being such a goddamn dumbass and either sleep or drink because everytime you open your goddamn mouth you piss me off!"

By this time Naruto was face down on the floor, his arms flailing around as he tried to smack Sasuke in the face with one of them. Sasuke was straddling Naruto's back and was pulling on his hair. Sasuke's grip slackened though, as he realized what he had just said. Naruto stopped struggling and shut his mouth.

Sasuke should learn how to think before he spoke. He mentally smacked himself.

Naruto sighed, beneath him "I think...I understand..."

Sasuke blanched.

Understand what?

"You're just worried about me..." Naruto started. Sasuke sighed in relief. "It's not anything big...I didn't think that you needed to know about it. I'm sorry...I didn't think you would worry so much about me but..." Naruto started to laugh.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow in question. He got off Naruto and sat on the ground. Naruto sat up and leaned his back against Sasuke's side.

"I'm just...happy. I thought that nobody would want to be by my side ever again." Naruto bit his lip ,"Sasuke...we're friends, right? Whatever happens...you won't leave me, right?" Naruto looked up at Sasuke, anxious eyes wide.

Sasuke looked at Naruto. It seemed that the blond was hiding something from him but for now he would not question it. Naruto would eventually open up. Sasuke looked away and snorted "Dobe, if you become any more annoying I can still kick you out."

Naruto laughed, knowing that Sasuke wouldn't.

"Ne, you're so shy!" Naruto started poking Sasuke in the side. Sasuke grabbed his wrist to stop him and Naruto looked up at him.

Sasuke took in Naruto's features greedily.

To be swept away from these emotions I'm feeling...what am I feeling?

Sasuke stroked Naruto's face with his hand and Naruto blushed. Sasuke smirked and stood up, holding his hand out to Naruto. Naruto shyly took it and pulled himself up.

Sasuke turned to Naruto "Naruto...there's no barriers between us anymore. You've overstepped them all already. I won't complain about something so trivial like that but understand that it won't be easy to leave anymore. All I want in return is for you to open up."

Sasuke reached to tug on Naruto's hair and walked back into his bedroom, leaving Naruto in the hallway.

ooooooooooooooooooooo

A/N: Ok, I've had someone mention this to me before, about Naruto always being very...cocky about his appearance. LOL. It's not meant to come across that way, Naruto doesn't mean it seriously. Naruto just likes to mess around with people a lot, and even though he is a hottie, he doesn't notice it much (because although he pretends to be cocky he really has no idea how sexy he is). Get it, got it, good.

ALSO, while on break today at work I got to thinking about my long journey as a yaoi fangirl. You guys...it has officially been three years since I got converted. Squeal. I can no longer read heterosexual fanfictions for they happen to bore me to death. And I do not regret a thing.

Dear readers, I'd like to know how you got converted. Tell me your stories, I wanna know them all.

Until next time!